Already dealing with a nine-game losing streak, the Philadelphia 76ers face immediate and longer-range issues in trying to resuscitate their season.
Not only do the Sixers have to tangle with the red-hot Stephen Curry and the visiting Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, but Philadelphia learned Friday that center Joel Embiid won’t return this season due to his troublesome left knee.
The Sixers, who entered Friday 12th in the Eastern Conference, two spots shy of a play-in tournament berth, have not won since Feb. 4.
On Wednesday, they fought hard before falling to the host New York Knicks 110-105 on Wednesday. Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points, but he shot just 12-of-32 from the field and 0-of-10 from long distance as he continues to battle a right finger sprain.
“Mostly just my shot and my ball handling,” Maxey said when asked how the injury affected him. “I can’t really pound the ball like I wanted to, but I’m not gonna make any excuses. Some of those, they gotta go in.”
Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in 27 points, while Paul George had 25 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals — but also seven turnovers. Still, the Sixers fought valiantly, Maxey said.
“We played hard as hell,” he said. “We guarded the ball, played together, played fast, made shots, got to the paint, scored. That’s how you play basketball.”
Entering Friday’s action, the Warriors — winners of five in a row — sit a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the sixth spot in the West standings with Curry playing a leading role, as usual.
Most recently, in beating the host Orlando Magic 121-115 on Thursday, Curry erupted for a season-high 56 points behind 12 3-pointers. He scored nearly as many points as his teammates combined (65) and finished with 44 more points than the next-closest Warriors starter (Draymond Green with 12).
“We’re spoiled around here,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said of Curry’s heroics. “We’re used to it, but it never gets old watching.”
The Warriors trailed by 17 just before halftime before Curry caught fire, helping the Warriors win the opener game of a five-game trip.
“I had a little flurry in the first half and started to feel the energy,” Curry said. “For us to win this game, it took all those points.”
Curry, who turns 37 on March 14, is still playing at a high level. He is averaging 24.0 points, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals.
This is the final meeting between the Sixers and Warriors this season. Golden State posted a 139-105 home win over Philadelphia on Jan. 2. Curry shot 8-of-8 from 3-point range en route to 30 points.
“My game was indicative of how we all played,” Curry said that day. “It was a beautiful brand of basketball.”
